Strainer trap



Nov. 14, 1933. A PULLMAN 1,935,128

STRAINER TRAP Filed May 22, 1933 when I I I, gnuentoz /Z 55/? 7'//YP111. L Mew LBOI mni'sma 1,935,128 i STRAINER TRAP Albertine Pullman,Alexandria, Va.

1 Application May 22, 1933.

' 3 Claims. (01. 4 -286") Mypresen't invention relates to improvementsin strainer t'raps for use in drain pipes or waste pipes of kitchensinks,washstands, wash bowls, and similar fixtures,and-especially'designe'd for use in barber shops, beauty shop's, hairdressing parlors'or salons, and other tonsorial establishments where thewaste or drain pipesare likely to receive hairs among the debris orrefuse that may flow from the wash stand downthrough the waste- As iswell known; in tonsorial parlors especially,

particles of solid refuse or' debris containing greases of variousnatures, and hairs, frequently foul and clog'up the waste pipe throughwhich they are expected to flowfcausin'g annoyance, unsanitaryconditions, and expense for plumbers bills on account ot'repairs. Toovercome these objectionable features I have invented a removablestrainer-trap, or trap device, which will readily permit the passage orflow of liquid'refuse through the waste pipe, but which is effective intrapping, collecting, or gathering all hairs and grease contained in thedebris or refuseth tm ay be emptied into the'waste pipe. f The trapdevice may readily be, regular intervals," cleansed of' the accumulatedhair and debris, and then replaced, asgr'equiredfi thereby eliminatingunsanitary conditionsgand preventing clogging or stopping up of thewastepipes. Q

The invention consists incertain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In theaccompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example of thephysical'ernbodiment of my invention anda slightemodification thereof,wherein the parts are combined'and arranged according to one mode I havethusfardevised for the practical application of-the principles of myinvention.

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a portion of a sink or washbowlwith a drain pipe or wastepipe, and with my strainer-trapsuspended orsupported in position for performing its functions.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view showing the v V manner of rigidlysecuring the strainer to the view, as at line 3-3 of Figure 1 showingthe bristles of the trap occupying substantially" the entire cross areaof the pipe. r

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view at the upper moved at Serial o.672,277

end of the trap showing am fied form of supportingor suspendingmeans'for the trap. Figure 5 is a plan view showing .the relation of thecross-wires or suspending means ofzFigure 4, to the mouth of'the wastepipe. 1 I

In order thatthe utility and general. arrange ment of parts of theinvention may readilybe understood I have shown in Figure 1aconventional waste pipe or drain pipe 1, 'whichmayrhave a-supporting orsuspending annular flange 2 that is seated as usual in'the drain openingof a vessel 3, which, as before stated, may be a kitchensink, washstand, washbowl, or other similar=rfixture.

Whilethe strainer trap of my inventionmaybe adapted for'various uses in-collecting,'gathering,- or trapping debris or refuse to prevent'its'pas sage through the waste pipe, the strainer-trap isespeciallyeffective in trapping hairs 'and grease' that may flow with"water as off throughj'thepipe. In oneform'of my invention 'I provide"the trap device with a perforated strainer-plate 4', of con cave-convexshape, and of well known type, and the stem b of theitrap "is fashionedof-" twisted wires which pass throughacentral hole in the-strainer-plate. The-stem and plate 'are'rigidl'y 'secufred together inany suitable manner, as for instance by forminga head'or knob B'on thecon vex-or -jup'per face of the plateyand welding-or soldering the Thead, stem and plate together. Th'ejknob may be used as a handle wheninsert ing the trap in the waste pipe, or when withdrawingthe trap fromthe pipe, and the strainerplate', which forms a perforated cover for theopening or mouth of the Waste pipe, also performs the function of asupport or suspending means for the trap when in position in the pipe.

Below the stem 5, the twisted wires are fashioned asla spiral core '7,the coils of which core may be of any suitable diameter, and of anyappropriate length, but the spiral core coils around the axial center ofthe pipe and is spaced a suitable distance from the cylindrical walls ofthe p p r r 'In the twists of the coils of the spiral core is the wateris passing secured a spiral ribbon 8, of bristle material simthe drawingthe spiral core is located intermediate the outer and inner edges ofthespiral ribbon', and the bristles extend outwardly from the core tofrictionally engage the inner wall of the pipeyand they also extendinwardly from the 'ilar to the material employed in brushes, and thesebristles may be of hair, wire, or other suitable materialfor'thepurpose. As indicated in the trap and of the pipe.

The bristles are so disposed that they occupy the entire cross area ofthe pipe, in order that the water may not carry any hairs past the trap,.but

the water is free to flow, not only in a spiral column through the trap,but directly through the bristles of the trap. The core is spaced fromthe axial line of the trap in order not to form an obstruction againstpassage of water directly through the center of the pipe, and the wateris free to flow through the bristles that extend outwardly from thespiral core. The stem 5 is of sufficient length to permit the formationof a head of water above the trap that will insure a flow of waterstraight through the trap at all points except for the core, and anyresistance offered to the flow of water by the bristles is compensatedfor by the spiral passage through the trap that permits flow of water.Thus it is practically'impossible for a hair to pass through the trapwithout becoming entangled in the bristlesat' some point in the trap,and as the hairs are tangled and matted in the bristles they are twinedand intertwined in suchlmanner that they cannot be dislodged by the flowof water through the trap. Solid particles of grease, refuse, and otherdebris are also lodged in the trap and tana ed in. the bristles.

At regular intervals the trap is removed from the waste pipe and thehairs and accumulated debris are removed therefrom, after which the trapis again inserted in place.

The bristles and the spiral core, preferably, pcssessresiliency, thuspermitting the exterior periphery of the spiral ribbon to be made largerin diameter than the bore or inner diameter of the'pipe. Becauseof thisresiliency, the trap may be inserted into the pipe in such manner as toscrape the inner face of the "pipe, and some of the bristlesmay be bentout of the conventional shape shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing.As the trap is shoved downjin the pipe, some of the bristles that extendoutwardly from the spiral core are caused to bend upwardly, and theseupwardly bent bristles are instrumental in providing obstructionsagainst which the hairs are likely to lodge and become entangled, Whenthe trap is removed, the bent bristles, by theirfrictional contact withthe wall of the pipeand spiral coil to, or across the center or axialline of due to their resiliency, are returned to normal position,radiating directly from the spiral core. The insertion, and removal ofthe trap from the -.pipe, with the bristles in contact with the wall ofthe pipe, maintain the surface of the pipe free from debris and insure asanitary condition within the interior of the pipe.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modified form of support orsuspending means for the trap Within the waste pipe. In these figures ofthe drawing, the two ends 9 and 10 of the twisted wires of the stem arestraightened out, and they are of suificient length to extend across themouth or opening of the waste pipe. These bent ends thus form across-head which supports the trap and prevents excessive flow of waterfrom packing the trap in the pipe, and at the same time the cross headis used as a handle when inserting and removing the trap.

While I have shown one exemplifying type oi the trap, it will beunderstood that changes and alterations are contemplated, and may bemade in the illustratedstructures, within the scope of my claims,andwithout departing from the principles of my invention. h h

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as ,new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent,is:

l I '1. A trap forthe purpose described comprising a stem having at oneend a suspending head, a spiral core. formed as an extension of theother end of the stem, said spiral core fashioned of twisted wire, andbristles secured intermediate their ends in said core to form a spiralribbon.

2. A trap for the purposedescribed comprising a'stem,-a perforatedstrainerplate secured at one end of the stem and a handle on said plate,a spiral core formed as an extension of the other end of the stern, saidspiral 'core fashioned of resilient, twisted, wire, and bristles securedintermediate their ends insaidcoreto form a spiral ribbo n.=

$3., n astrainer trap for use in an outlet pipe,

a spiral core of suitable material, means for supporting, the corewithin the pipe, and a spiral ribbon of bristle-material mounted on thecore to forman unobstructed spiral passage in the p p V ALBERTINE PULLMAN.

